Nations compete to join wealthiest countries with the highest Gross National Product (GNP) per capita. Which countries made the top-ten list for best living standards?
GNP per capita is the most widely accepted index for a country's financial success. Also referred to as Gross National Income, this much publicized statistic represents the total amount of money that a country's consumers spend on all goods and services in a year, divided by that country's population.
GNP per capita only counts consumption that can be measured in money. Therefore GNP statistics cannot capture the true quality of life in a country, nor do they necessarily define the best nations in the world. GNP per capita does tell a general story about a country's overall wealth - one that should be taken with a grain of salt and without stereotyping the living standard for all citizens.
Based on World Bank Development Indicators published in July 2006, here are the 10 richest countries in the world. GNP per capita for each country is shown in US dollars.
Ten Richest Countries (based on 2004 GNP per capita in US$)
Luxembourg ... $56,380
Norway ... $51,810
Switzerland ... $49,600
United States ... $41,440
Denmark ... $40,750
Iceland ... $37,920
Japan ... $37,050
Sweden ... $35,840
Ireland ... $34,310
United Kingdom ... $33,630
Luxembourg's high GNP per capita is due in part because a significant part of its workforce lives in neighbouring countries. Non-resident workers are not counted in Luxembourg's population which in turn raises the country's GNP per capita score. Bordered by Belgium, France and Germany, Luxembourg is strategically located close to its primary international trade partners particularly Belgium and the Netherlands. As a member of the European Union, Luxembourg also enjoys the advantages of the open European market.
Canada finished in 21st place with GNP per capita of $28,310 (again, amount is in US$).
And The Winners Are...
Another measure that determines the world's richest countries is the GNP per capita based on global purchasing power parity (PPP). GNP per capita based on PPP represents the statistic converted to international dollars using purchasing power parity rates. An international dollar has the same purchasing power in a given country as a U.S. dollar has in the United States.
Ten Richest Countries (based on 2004 PPP GNP per capita in international$)
Luxembourg ... $61,610
United States ... $39,820
Norway ... $38,680
Switzerland ... $35,660
Ireland ... $32,930
Iceland ... $32,370
Austria ... $31,800
Denmark ... $31,770
Hong Kong ... $31,560
Belgium ... $31,530
The U.K. finished in 11th place with PPP GNP per capita of $31,430 while Canada came in 5 places lower at 16th place with $30,760 in international $.
The world's richest nations enjoy GNPs per capita up to 115 times greater than those of the world's poorest countries.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers. Nations with the fastest growing GDPs were Chad (29.8%), Ukraine (12.1%), China (10.1%), Russia (7.7%), Iceland (5.2%) and Luxembourg (4.5%),
Sources
This analysis is based on World Bank Development Indicators for 2006 Table 1.1 - Size of the Economy and Table 1.6 - Key indicators for other economies.
The copyright of the article World's Richest Countries in Gross National Product is owned by Daniel Workman. Permission to republish World's Richest Countries in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
well India is one of the fastest GDP...which has been ignored..hehehe....
May 8, 2008 4:37 AM
Guest :
l am not surprise that nigeria cannot be found in the list based on the
corruption that's rampat in the country.
May 12, 2008 11:46 PM
Guest :
why Philippines is not there well because Phils. is in the list of top 10
most corrupt politicians ^_^
May 14, 2008 4:19 AM
Guest :
I think Nigeria should be among the world richest country, don't look at it
from the corrupting side,I think every country is corrupt including the
America her self, just the they have way of subduing there's
Oct 4, 2008 5:59 AM
Guest :
where are malaysia, thailand and philippines? they are asia's richest
countries now!
Oct 7, 2008 12:26 AM
Guest :
Why is Taiwan not included ? What is the GNP for Taiwan (Republic of China)
?
Oct 12, 2008 2:32 AM
Guest :
This data is skewed... cost of living in US is far higher than most all
countries period. In the US, one MUST OWN A CAR to get to the slave jobs.
One MUST pay for piss poor health care and high premiums. NO FREE SOCIAL
SERVICES = no cash left over for fun.
In the Netherlands a car
is a liablity more than an asset. Health care is dirt cheap, far superior,
NO WAITING FOR THE Doctor in minor emergency cases. The list goes on and
on....
Not to mention the remainder of the American peoples time
is spent primarily dealing with insurance problems, auto repairs, debt, and
few can EVER afford to see the dentist.
SOCIALISM IS THE ONLY
WAY. The US is hopeless. Education for the masses is POOR. College means
little. The people are uneducated about others in this World (in general
not the elite few republicans who secretly hide this knowledge from the
working man.
All in all America is the place to be if driving a
car defines who you are.... well maybe this no longer is applicable either.
Socialism will never work in the US without MASSIVE EDUCATION
REFORM at a DICTATORSHIP type of level. It all start in elementary through
higher schools.
The US MUST DEDICATE MORE AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR
THOSE WHO WISH TO ENTER THE TRADES. THIS IS WHY THE US HAS PISS POOR
RECORDS IN THIS DEPARTMENT..... YEAH-YEAH THEIR IS ALWAYS SOME GUY YOU KNOW
THAT YOU WISH TO USE TO ARGUE BUT FACE THE FACTS YANKEES. SHAPE UP OR YOU
WILL SINK LIKE A ROCK IN FRESH WATER.
Oct 15, 2008 12:21 AM
Guest :
ETHIOPIA IS THE COUNTRY WHICH FORGOT BY GOD
Oct 21, 2008 3:20 PM
Guest :
whats the income per head for the top ten's richest countries
Oct 22, 2008 10:03 AM
Guest :
no United Arab Emirates? or phillippines?
Oct 25, 2008 12:54 AM
Guest :
Maybe your country is listed among the richest nation in the world but for
me...PHILIPPINES still number ONE!!!!!!
Oct 30, 2008 5:04 PM
Guest :
why arent there other countries? theres a lot of countries in asia and
africa that get just as much money!!
Nov 1, 2008 3:06 PM
Guest :
im pretty sure Saudi Arabia should have been listed, which has been ignored
as well
Nov 3, 2008 3:50 AM
Guest :
am surprised Chad!!!! Guess i havent being paying attention.... what about
Kenya?
can we get some updated information please? BTW the person that thinks
"jamaca" should be the richest country - can someone please punch
him :)
Nov 10, 2008 3:00 AM
Guest :
PHILIPPINES IS TOP 9 RICHEST COUNTRY IN ASIA MAKE A RESEARCH^^
Nov 11, 2008 11:24 AM
Guest :
INDIA HAVIN 3 PEOPLE IN TOP TEN RICH PERSON AND ALSO HAVING THE FASTEST
G.D.P IS TOTALLY IGNORED..
Nov 16, 2008 5:26 PM
Guest :
philippines,malaysia,thailand,singapore are the richest in asia....
Nov 16, 2008 5:29 PM
Guest :
oh chad???country cme from africa..so surprising^^..africa is one of the
richest continent because of diamond..but the people there always put in
quarrel???why?
Nov 17, 2008 3:35 PM
Guest :
india is now to be considered # 10
Nov 19, 2008 8:46 AM
Guest :
IRELAND IS THE BEST GO ON DE IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nov 21, 2008 8:42 AM
Guest :
Belgium is not richer as The Netherlands
Nov 21, 2008 8:55 AM
Guest :
Am sure some countries are richer no doubt, Scandinavia countries are rich
followed by African countries...USA and UK shouldn't be on that list
Whatever way they are calculating it from, Life is cheap and free to live
in Nigeria and South Africa unlike Europe or other USA where even the fact
they have high minimum wage they cant still afford to buy a house after
10yrs of work. We all know all this stuff is politics and some wont be
mentioned cus of those who rules at the moment, Everybody knows USA is the
father of corruption but who can talk or prove it in public?
Dec 22, 2008 10:34 PM
Guest :
Pakistan is the Upcoming richest Nation of 2010
Dec 22, 2008 10:35 PM
Guest :
yes Pakistan Rules
Dec 23, 2008 8:53 PM
Guest :
i think Norway is richest country as a country
Dec 24, 2008 3:33 AM
Guest :
i feel nigeria should not be swept under the carpet cos its a very rich
country,though the system is very corrupt,selfish and selfcentered
Dec 25, 2008 11:15 PM
Guest :
Whoever insisted that the Philippines is one of the richest in Asia must be
bonkers. However, despite the middle-income status of the Philippines, one
cannot ignore the fact that the GDP is growing respectably in the last
three-four years. Give it more time and you will see, it shall also rise up
together with the other luckier countries.
Dec 28, 2008 11:17 AM
Guest :
one day india will also come in this list
Jan 2, 2009 7:03 PM
Guest :
To the Dutch socialist moron that is so proud of their country's socialist
state: I'm happy that HALF your paycheck goes to taxes and you NEVER see it
again.
I'm happy that I work for a living and I'm not a
drugged-out, seething anti-corporate, brainwashed product of the Socialist
university system, like you. I'm happy that I can afford a house and a car.
There is lots of space here in the US, which is why we like to have a cars
to get around, not because it makes me something I'm not.
The
main problems in the US stem from the socialist takeover, the illegal and
unconstitutional Federal Reserve's out of control printing presses of a
non-gold-backed paper money, and banks massive marketing campaigns to
brainwash the public into living in debt. Big banks = the powermongers who
want to see us all enslaved. Europe is a total shithole for that.
P.S. My friend from Britain says that we have lovely teeth here in the
US. P.P.S. I've been to Europe and it's a dump.
Jan 4, 2009 3:23 AM
Guest :
i think these figures are based only on material aspects rather than the
natural resouurces Tanzania is among the countries which have a lot of
resources but i am suprised on the postion which it is..... i think
the best way to measure the richnest of the country is looking on the
standard of living of the people rather than looking on per capital income
as that is only the average figure, it may not match with the reality of
people's life........ from Tanzania
Jan 5, 2009 11:42 AM
Guest :
india rulesssssssssssssss and will always rule
Jan 8, 2009 8:12 PM
Guest :
Israel and Iraq should include in the top 5 as the top contestants for
this 2009 Grammy Award...
